Title: Too Late
Characters: Jack/Daniel Jack/Female
Word Count: 758
Rating: PG15
Summary: What would you call this Jack? I'd call this an affair and I feel guilty.
Notes: Jack/Daniel Slash. Italics are emails that Jack and Daniel have sent to each other. Set Season 7ish. Everything's the same except they found Atlantis sooner. Jack still a Colonel. Hammond still in charge. Part One of Three.

Too Late

What would you call this Jack? I'd call this an affair and I feel guilty. She's lovely and I can't help but feel like I'm hurting her. We're hurting her. Come to my office please, I need to talk.

Daniel.

Jack never thought he'd have to choose but both Daniel and Jane were getting on at him, more and more. He loved them both. He sighed and opened a new email. He couldn't face seeing Daniel right now.

Sorry, can't come to your office right now. I'm tied down with paper work that needs to be done. But listen, I know what we have here is more than just friends and I think she, on some level, knows that too. I'll talk to you about it later. I told her I was heading out this morning for a weekend mission so I need a place to stay. Well I could stay on base but you know what the bed's are like and yours is so much more comfortable for my back and all. Talk to you later.

Love always. Jack.

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I'm leaving at ten if you want a lift. And you're always welcome at mine.

Jack smiled and twirled his yoyo around on his finger. His office was surprising tidy but that was, maybe, because he never spent any time in it. He made Daniel's untidy and his remained perfect. His reports sat on the corner of the desk, unopened and not even started. He needed to get a grip. He was meeting Daniel topside in twenty minutes and he desperately wanted to shake the doubt from his head. It wasn't that he doubted he loved Daniel enough to have an affair with him; it was that he doubted that he loved Jane enough not to. He'd known Jane for a little over seven months. Carter had introduced them. Jane was a sale executive for some big shot company in Colorado.

Jack had known Daniel for eight years. They knew everything about each other, their favourite colours, foods, songs, movies. And when Jack thought about Jane and himself, he realised that they knew nothing about each other. He didn't know her favourite food, he couldn't tell you her age or her favourite colour. He could tell you anything about Daniel.

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'About time.' Daniel said, tapping his watch.

'I'm only five minutes late. The lift broke down.'

'Sure.' Daniel rolled his eyes. 'Get in.'

Daniel pulled out of the base parking lot and looked over at Jack.

'Jack, can we talk?'

'Sure.' He said, shifting in his seat.

'Do you love Jane?' Daniel began, 'Do you love me?'

'Of course I love you.'

'And Jane?'

'I don't know.'

'What do you mean you don't know? How can you not know?'

'I just have some… issues. I know, one hundred percent sure, that I love you and I know that because, you are the first person I think of when I wake up in the morning. I was to fall asleep lying next to you. I want to wake up with you. I am crazy about you. And I don't feel like that about Jane. I don't want to hurt her… or you but in the end, well you know.'

'Me or her.'

'Yeah.' Jack shifted uncomfortably, 'I think what worries me the most is that I'd choose you, hands down, every time. I'd risk everything for you.'

'That very sweet, crazy but sweet… so what are you going to do.'

'I'm going to tell her its over.' Jack stated, 'As soon as I get back from my mission… in four days.'

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Jack spent the next four days with Daniel in his apartment discussing how he was going to tell Jane. Jack had decided not to tell Jane that he was in love with Daniel. He was just going to break the news to her gently, telling her that he couldn't hurt her because he was a military leader and he'd hate for her to be left alone in the world. He had it all planned.

All planned. That was until he got to his front door.

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'I couldn't do it.' Jack admitted quietly, 'I tried but she had a comeback for everything.'

'I cannot believe you sometimes Jack.'

'I'm sorry. I tried I really did.'

'Just get out.'

'Daniel.'

'I've taken an assignment. I'm going to Atlantis; we're heading out the day after next. I'll be gone for three months. I'll talk to you when I get back. I have no time now.'

'Daniel.'

'Bye Jack.'

TBC

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